Voting restrictions across the country

Here’s a look at some of the voting restrictions that have been enacted in the last couple of years across the country. Some of the laws are being challenged or on hold awaiting clearance from the U.S. Department of Justice. A number of other states are considering additional restrictions. Some states have laws that have been on the books longer, such as Ohio, which requires an ID to vote, but not necessarily a photo ID.

FLORIDA

Registration: Requires groups that sign up people to vote to register electronically with the state and provide the name and address of each employee and volunteer. Those "registration agents" each must sign a sworn declaration acknowledging criminal penalties for false voter registration. Registration forms must be submitted to state officials within 48 hours of completion unless the government office is closed. The groups must account for every state and federal form they use. Prohibits registered voters from changing their address at the polls if they have moved to another county.

Early voting: Reduces early voting period to eight days, from 14 days.

Voting rights: Makes it more difficult for felons to get their voting rights restored after they complete their sentences.

GEORGIA

Early voting: Reduces early voting period to 21 days, from 45 days.

ILLINOIS

Registration: Requires those who sign up new voters to return completed registrations to election officials by first-class mail within two business days or personally deliver them within seven days of completion. The previous law simply required registrars to return the materials within seven days of receipt.

IOWA

Voting rights: Makes it more difficult for felons to get their voting rights restored after they complete their sentences.

Registration: Requires proof of citizenship to register to vote. Accepted proof includes a driver’s license or nondriver’s ID card issued by Kansas, birth certificate, current or expired U.S. passport, naturalization documents, bureau of Indian affairs card, consular report of birth abroad of a citizen of the U.S., certificate of U.S. citizenship, final adoption decree or U.S. military record.

MISSISSIPPI**

Voter ID: Requires a photo ID to vote. Accepted IDs include a driver’s license, state ID, passport, government employee ID, license to carry a pistol or revolver, tribal ID, military ID, college student ID or voter ID.

NEW HAMPSHIRE**

Voter ID: Requires photo ID to vote. Accepted IDs include a driver’s license, state ID, military ID, passport, government ID or student ID.

OHIO

Early voting: Bans in-person voting on the final three days before the election. (A law with numerous other restrictions was repealed by lawmakers after opponents gathered enough signatures to put it on the ballot.)

PENNSYLVANIA***

Voter ID: Requires photo ID to vote. Accepted IDs include a Department of Transportation ID, U.S. government ID, military ID, municipal employee ID, college student ID or an ID from certain state care facilities.

SOUTH CAROLINA*

SOUTH DAKOTA

Voting rights: Denies voting rights to persons with criminal convictions who are on probation. Requires that any term of incarceration or parole be completed before the state will restore voting rights.

TENNESSEE

Voter ID: Requires photo ID to vote. Accepted IDs include a driver’s license, state government ID, non-driver state ID, passport, state or U.S. government employee ID or military ID. Student IDs not accepted.

Registration: Requires proof of citizenship to register to vote if the applicant is flagged as a non-citizen by elections officials. Accepted proof includes a birth certificate, U.S. passport, naturalization documentation, other proof of citizenship established under the federal Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 or a Bureau of Indian Affairs card number, tribal treaty card number or tribal enrollment number.

Early voting: Reduces early voting period to 13 days, from 15 days.

TEXAS*

Voter ID: Requires a photo ID to vote. Accepted IDs include a driver’s license, election ID certificate, personal ID issued by the Department of Public Safety, military ID, U.S. citizenship certificate, passport or concealed carry license. Student IDs are not accepted.

Registration: Prohibits those who sign up new voters from helping voters to register or receiving registration applications until they complete a training program, with a possible exam. Those who sign up new voters cannot be paid by the number of registration forms they complete.

VIRGINIA**

Voter ID: Requires an ID to vote, but not a photo ID. Accepted IDs include a voter registration card, social security card, driver’s license, government ID, college student ID, employee ID, utility bill, bank statement, government check or paycheck with a name and address.

WEST VIRGINIA

Early voting: Reduces early voting period to 10 days, from 17 days.

WISCONSIN*

Voter ID: Requires photo ID to vote. Accepted IDs include a driver’s license, state ID, U.S. uniformed service ID, passport, certificate of U.S. naturalization, federally recognized Indian tribe ID or an ID issued by an accredited Wisconsin university or college. Student IDs not accepted.

Registration: Requires registrants to be residents of the state for twenty-eight consecutive days before an election, up from the previous 10-day requirement, and they may not apply to register earlier than the twenty-seventh consecutive day of residence. Moves up deadline for late registrants to the Friday before an election instead of the day before the election.

* On hold because of court challenges and might not be in effect for the November election.
** Requires clearance by the U.S. Department of Justice before the law can take effect.
*** Being challenged in court.

Source:Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law

Follow Us

cleveland.com is powered by Plain Dealer Publishing Co. and Northeast Ohio Media Group. All rights reserved (About Us).The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Northeast Ohio Media Group LLC.